If you are looking to buy or adopt a husky, you may be wondering about its shedding behaviors. How much do huskies shed and how much maintenance is required to take care of them? While they do require a lot of care, this shouldn’t stop you from bringing a gorgeous Samoyed or Siberian Husky into your home and life. If you are curious about husky shedding, we have broken down the details on what to expect and insight into owning a husky.
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Huskies shed for several reasons: to regulate their body temperature, to get rid of old fur and to make room for the new, and to maintain the health of their coats and skin. The shedding also helps a husky keep its fur clean and free from parasites, dirt, and bacteria.
Huskies are a breed of dog that is known for their thick, double-layer coat and their propensity to shed. Huskies shed heavily to regulate their body temperature in different environments and climates.
The husky’s coat is thick and double-layered, designed to insulate and protect them from extreme temperatures. The top layer of the double coat is designed to repel moisture and keep them warm in the winter and the bottom layer of guard hairs is designed to keep them cool in the summer.
Additionally, double-coated dogs like huskies use shedding for health reasons. Shedding helps the husky maintain its thick fur, as the old fur is replaced with a new, healthy coat.
Huskies shed twice a year, both during the summer and the winter months. Unlike many dog breeds that shed all year round, a husky sheds just twice a year.
When the weather changes, the husky’s body temperature changes and it will naturally shed its coat to regulate its body temperature. During the summer months, huskies will shed their thick, double coat and replace them with a single-layer coat that is designed to keep them cool.
During the winter months, huskies shed their single-layer coat and then replace it with a thicker winter coat, that is designed to keep them warm. Huskies also shed to get rid of old fur and to make room for a new fur coat that is growing.
Siberian Huskies have evolved to perform at their peak in all weathers, and shedding enables them to do just that. While most owners have a Siberian Husky, those of you looking at a Samoyed or a Malamute should know that their shedding season is the same.
Although it can be a pain when huskies shed their summer or winter coat, at least owners know the time period for their husky shedding season.
Try not to get too hung up on when exactly your dog begins to shed, in terms of days, weeks, and months. Huskies shed twice a year but not at the same times.
Although huskies won’t shed more or less hair depending on the temperature, they do still sense exactly when the warm or cold weather is on its way. If your dog’s coat from summer is still there come October or November, don’t worry as your pooch will know just what it is doing.
A husky puppy will have a single coat for the first year of its life, give or take a couple of months. This puppy coat will soon give way to the beginnings of its double coat, which it will then use for its entire adult life.
At around the 10-month mark, puppy dogs shed this first coat of fur, although it can be as late as 14 months before this change happens. Once that fuzzy, puppy coat disappears, it will never have hair of that texture again.
During this time your husky’s fur will shed but you won’t see an awful lot on the ground. The puppy coat is very fine, so whilst there may not be a lot by way of volume, it will be troublesome for you to clean up.
We know that huskies shed, and why they shed, but how much hair can husky owners expect from shedding season? This all depends on whether they are shedding their winter or summer coats.
Dog breeds with double coats like the husky breed have a thick coat of fur that is made up of short, tough hairs on the underside. Above this undercoat, is a top layer of long hairs.
The lower coat is used for insulation of the husky’s skin, and the upper coat is there to protect the coat below from moisture and the sun’s rays. When the summer approaches, you will see excessive shedding of the husky’s undercoat.
This will result in loose hair all over the house and just about everywhere your dog walks. What many don’t realize, is that ahead of the cold months, husky owners will see more shedding.
This seems odd given that a husky needs every layer of that double coat to stay warm. Ahead of winter, however, you will not see heavy shedding, but rather some loose hair around the place as the husky prepares its body for a new, warm, winter coat.
Siberian Huskies are recognized because of those piercing blue eyes and iconic double coats, with white beneath and dark above. Siberian Huskies shed in the same way as any other husky, twice a year to prepare for seasonal changes.
Much like different huskies and other dog breeds with double coats, Siberian Huskies shed a huge amount of hair going into the summer. These huskies have evolved this way because of necessity. Whilst they may no longer need such high levels of protection, their basic instincts have remained the same.
It is worth mentioning here that huskies never lose that double coat, no matter what the season is. Twice a year the husky will shed, but it is more about thinning its coat, rather than losing it entirely.
As the warmer months approach, a husky will shed the bottom layer of its double coat, leaving a finer layer to maintain a cool temperature. It is important to note that not all huskies blow their coats completely during the fall.
Sometimes owners will only see a small amount of husky fur as the winter months arrive. Those that don’t shed a lot of fur during fall, will simply allow their new coat to thicken the existing coat they used during the summer.
While there may be no way to fully stop your husky from losing hair during shedding season, there are some steps you could take to control it.
Brushing a husky regularly is one of the best ways to reduce shedding and keep its coat healthy. Regular brushing with a slicker brush will remove dead and loose fur and stimulate the production of natural oils to keep their coat glossy.
Proper nutrition is essential for keeping your husky’s coat healthy and reducing shedding. Make sure to feed them a balanced diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that nourish the skin and coat. Adding a diet supplement that contains these fatty acids can also be beneficial for a healthy, dense undercoat.
Exercise helps to keep your husky’s coat healthy and reduces shedding. Make sure to provide them with plenty of physical activity and mental stimulation each day. Siberian Huskies are used to walking and running tens of miles a day. Dog breeds like this do need a huge amount of exercise, and it will also support shedding.
Bathing your Siberian Husky regularly will help to reduce shedding and keep its coat clean and healthy. Make sure to use a dog shampoo that is specifically designed for husky hair and formulated to nourish both their lighter summer coat and their thick winter coat.
Using a de-shedding tool is an effective way to remove excess fur and reduce shedding. Choose a tool that is specifically designed for huskies and use it gently to avoid irritating their skin.
To make sure the hair is not spread around your house even further, make sure to clean surfaces, floors, and furniture throughout your home regularly. The best way to do this is to keep tools handy such as a pet hair lint roller or a pet hair remover.
If you notice what you would perceive to be excessive shedding, you must take action. Double-coated dogs almost always shed a similar amount each year, assuming that they are healthy.
If your husky’s shedding more than they did the previous year or more than you are used to, make sure that you visit the vet to find out why. The amount of hair your husky’s shedding is not relative to the number of degrees on the weather forecast.
Huskies shed for cold weather and warm weather, and that is all. The only factors, therefore, which could be affecting your husky’s shedding, are health-related. This can be a good way to monitor your husky’s general health.
Unfortunately, huskies are not hypoallergenic and this is something that prevents so many from enjoying these wonderful dogs. Much like other dog breeds that shed a lot, the fur releases allergens into the air, causing issues for those who are sensitive to them.
Siberian Huskies are widely considered as being one of the worst dogs for those who do have allergies. If you are thinking about getting a husky then it is important that you are aware of the shedding behaviors, but that you don’t obsess over them.
After you have had a husky for a couple of years you will be in tune with its characteristics and how it sheds. This will make your life much easier.
There is a learning curve that you will have to go through if you haven’t owned huskies before. Given how amazing huskies are, this education will be more than worthwhile.
Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about owning huskies, and how they go about shedding all of that thick fur.
You should never shave your husky because doing so can cause dangerous consequences. Because of the important role that the double coat plays in a husky’s well-being, cutting it off puts the dog at risk. For example, if you shave a husky and then it went out into the sun, it could very easily get heatstroke and die. This is because the lower layer is not protected as it should be. Even low temperatures could cause health issues.
Many seem to be hung up on the fact that a husky sheds, instead of thinking about what an amazing pet this dog breed will make. These are just some of the reasons why a husky makes for the perfect pet.
We’ve mentioned that excessive shedding is more often than not related to the health of your dog, and the same thing goes for dogs shedding in patches. This is not normal and you should take action if you recognize it.
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